System for connecting wire shelf units end-to-end

ABSTRACT

Wire shelves include elongated front and rear rails in the form of C-shaped channels. Each rail includes an outer vertical wall which is provided with an opening adjacent each end. An elongated clip with an anchor pad at one end is received within axially aligned channels of two shelves desired to be connected together end-to-end. The anchor pad locks into an end aperture of one rail and extends into the channel of the associated rail of a second shelf to hold the shelves in place while an end frame and leg assembly are assembled to the second shelf. A single bolt then connects all the parts together, including the horizontal clip, at the end aperture of the second shelf to form a rigid connection supported by only a single leg assembly.

[ Oct. 9, 1973 SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING WIRE SHELF UNITS END-TO-END [75]Inventor: David C. Fleck, Cincinnati, Ohio [73] Assignee: AmericanHospital Supply Corporation, Evanston, Ill.

22 Filed: Dec. 27, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 212,487

[52] US. Cl 108/64, 211/182, 108/111,

287/103 R [51] Int. Cl A47b 57/00 [58] Field of Search 108/111, 114, 64;

211/148, 181, 182, 177; 24/201 A, 230 TC; 52/726; 287/2, 103, 20.927,20.926, 20.924;

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 956,991 4/1964 Great Britain ..287 /2Primary ExaminerBernard A. Gelak Assistant Examiner-Peter A.Aschenbrenner Attorney-Dawson, Tilton, Fallon & Lungmus [5 7] ABSTRACTWire shelves include elongated front and rear rails in the form ofC-shaped channels. Each rail includes an outer vertical wall which isprovided with an opening adjacent each end. An elongated clip with ananchor pad at one end is received within axially aligned channels of twoshelves desired to be connected together end-to-end. The anchor padlooks into an end aperture of one rail and extends into the channel ofthe associated rail of a second shelf to hold the shelves in place whilean end frame and leg assembly are assembled to the second shelf. Asingle bolt then connects all the parts together, including thehorizontal clip, at the end aperture of the second shelf to form a rigidconnection supported by only a single leg assembly.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING WIRE SHELF UNITSEND-TO-END BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY The present invention relates to asystem for connecting wire shelf units end-to-end. Wire shelf units ofthe type with which the present invention is concerned may be used toprovide shelving for institutions such as hospitals and the like. It isdesirable from the point of view of achieving the economies of massproduction to have a limited number of basic system elements, yetachieve a maximum of different configurations so that the same basicunits may fulfill the needs of different situations.

One of the requirements for such shelving units is to connect theshelves end-to-end in achieving a unitary shelf longer than any of theindividual shelf units. In making an end-to-end connection of this type,shelf systerm. which are commercially available generally require acomplete end unit for each set of adjacent shelves. Thus, two end framesand two leg assemblies are used for a single connection. The end framesor uprights of the adjacent units are then banded or clamped together toeffect a rigid connection between the two shelving units.

One of the important features of the present invention is that iteliminates one end frame and one leg assembly, yet still achieves arigid connection between adjacent shelf units. The wire shelves of thepresent invention include, elongated front and rear rails in the form ofC-shaped channels which face the longitudinal center of the shelf. Eachrail is provided with an opening adjacent each end. These end openingsare generally rectangular, and they are located in the vertical outerwall of the rail. They extend to a limited extent into the upper andlower horizontal walls of each rail so as to provide an obstruction-freevertical throughput. I

An elongated clip with an anchor pad at one end is received withinaxially aligned side rails of two shelves desired to be connectedtogether end-to-end. The anchor-pad locks into an end aperture of onerail, and it extends into the channel of the associated rail of a secondshelf, thereby holding the first shelf in place while an end clip,upright frame and leg assembly are assembled to the second shelf. Asingle bolt then connects all of the parts together, including the clip,at the end aperture of the second shelf to form a rigid connectionbetween the two shelf units. Thus, the only connection between adjacentshelves is by means of the horizontal clip, thereby eliminating the needfor a second end frame and leg assembly.

By using the same end aperture either for receiving an anchor pad of aconnecting clip or for fastening a leg assembly and upright frame, theshelf units may be connected together from either direction, therebyrendering the. units interchangeable and achieving flexibility inuse. Inaddition, the shelf units of the present invention are connectedtogether with greater facility than has been achieved in the pastbecause the connection at each shelf edge is achieved only through asingle bolt. Since the horizontal end clip is locked to one shelf andtemporarily held in the channel of the other during assembly, assemblytime is further minimized by eliminating any pre-assembly to one unitother than attaching the horizontal end clip.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description ofa preferred embodiment accompanied by the attached drawing whereinidentical reference numerals will refer to like parts in their variousviews. I

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view showing two shelf unitsconnected end-to-end according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a connection between adjacent shelvesincorporating the present invention and with the parts in explodedrelation;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section view taken through the connection ofthe clip to one shelving unit; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section view taken through the connection ofthe end clip to the other shelving unit, as indicated by the sight line4-4 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring first to FIG. 1, there are shown portionsof three separate shelves, generally designated respectively byreference numerals 10, 11 and 12. The shelf units 10 and 11 areconnected end-to-end, as will be more fully disclosed below; and theshelftunits 11 and 12 are connected in transverse orientation, as mightbe used in providing shelving in a corner of a room. The shelf units 11and 12 are connected by means of a pair of clamps, one of which is shownin FIG. -1 and generally designated 13. Additional details regarding theclamp 13 may be found in the copending, co-owned application entitledClamp Assembly for Supporting Wire Shelf, Ser. No. 212,488, filed Dec.27, 1971.

Each of the shelves 10-12 is of the type generally referred to in thetrade as a wire shelf. These shelves are similar to each other, so thatonly the shelf 11 need be described in further detail for completeunderstanding of the invention.

Turning then to the shelf 11, it includes a plurality of elongatedhorizontal rods 15 which are all parallel to each other and spacedlaterally a predetermined distance. At each longitudinal edge of theshelf 11, there is a rail, only one of which is shown in FIG. 1 anddesignated generally by reference numeral 16. The rails have the generalshape of a C when viewed in vertical transverse section so as to form achannel; and the open portions of these channels face the longitudinalcenter of the shelf unit llthat is, they face each other. The channel 16includes an outer vertical wall 17 and upper and lower horizontal walls18 and 19 (the lower horizontal wall 19 being best seen in FIGS. 2 and3). The wires 15 are secured together and to the end rails by means oftransverse rods 20 to which they are welded. The distal ends of thetransverse rods 20 are then welded to the underside of the upper wall 18of the end rails.

The shelf 10 is similarly provided with elongated rods or wires 22 andside rails or channels, one of which is designated generally byreference numeral 23 and includes a vertical outer wall 24 and upper andlower horizontal walls connected thereto designated respectively 25 and26 (FIG. 2).

The end of the shelf 1 l is supported by means of a leg unit generallydesignated 27, and it is provided with an end upright frame, generallydesignated 28, which is formed from a plurality of upright rods 29 andhorizontal rods 30 welded together to form a rigid end frame. An uppershelf assembly may be connected, if desired, to the end frame 28 in amanner more fully described in co-owned US. Pat. No. 3,589,746 ofInglis, et al, entitled Wire Shelf Cart." Although this patent disclosesa cart, superposed shelves may be connected together in a mannerdisclosed therein.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the end leg assembly 27 may be seen to include atransverse horizontal bar 33 having a generally square cross section andpreferably being tubular, although these are not critical limitations.At each end of the horizontal bar 33, an upright tubular leg is weldedto the underside, one of these legs being shown in FIG. 2 and designatedby reference numeral 34. The lower end of the leg 34 is provided with anadjustable foot 35 for engaging the floor and supporting the unit.

The end of the bar 33 projects slightly beyond the leg 34 and isprovided with a horizontally extending plate 36 which fits into the openchannel of the side rail 16. The side rail 16 is provided with anaperture 37 formed adjacent the end thereof and in the vertical wall 17.The aperture 37 also extends to a limited extent into the upper andlower walls 18 and 19 of the channel 16, as indicated respectively at 38and 39 thus providing a vertical throughput or obstruction-free slot. Asimilar end aperture is provided at the other end of the side rail 16,and each side rail of each shelf is provided with an end aperturesimilar to the aperture 37. The end aperture for the side rail 24 isdesignated 40 in FIG. 2.

The plate 26 of the leg assembly 27 extends within the channel formed bythe side rail 16 and alongside of the aperture 37. The plate 36 isprovided with a clearance aperture 44 for receiving a bolt 45 which,together with a nut 46, holds the assembled parts together, as will bemore fully understood presently.

The upright frame unit 28 is secured to the end of the shelf by means ofa clip generally designated by reference numeral 48. The clip 48includes an upper separator portion generally designated 49, a laterallyextending tongue 50 and a lower clamp or hook portion 51. The tongue 50fits into the aperture 37 of the side rail 16 and stabilizes the clip 48against rotational motion when the clip is assembled to the shelf. Theupper separator 49 includes outwardly extending flanges 49a and 49b forseparating two vertical end rods 29 of the end frame 28; and the lowerclamp 51 receives a turned portion of the lower horizontal rod 30 of theend frame 28 to which the vertical rods 29 are welded. More details ofthe clip 58 and the manner in which it rigidly connects the upright endframe 28 to the shelf can be found in the above-mentioned patent.

A horizontally-extending clip generally designated by reference numeral50 in FIG. 2 includes a strut portion 51 and an enlarged anchor pad 52welded to one end thereof. At the other end of the strut 51 there is anaperture 53 which is elongated in a vertical direction and designed toreceive the bolt 45. The anchor pad 52 is received within the endaperture 40 of the end rail 23 of the shelf 10, as best seen in FIG. 1.The anchor pad 52 extends above and below the strut 51 so that when itis received within the end aperture 40 of the side rail 23, the upperand lower edges thereof (designated respectively 52a and 52b in FIG. 4),will engage the upper and lower edges respectively of the end aperture40 (designated 40a and 40b respectively in FIG. 2). These ends 40a and40b are formed respectively in the horizontal walls 25, 26 of the endrail 23. Thus, the horizontal clip 50 will be locked into position aslong as it extends parallel to the vertical walls of the aligned endrails 16, 23 and is placed against the inner surface of these verticalwalls. The height of the strut 51 of the horizontal clip 50 is slightlyless than the separation between the upper and lower walls of a siderail so that when it is received within the channels of two aligned siderails, the two rails cannot be bent in a vertical plane at the juncture.This further assists in transmitting load from the shelf 10 having noleg assembly to the supported shelf 11.

In erecting adjacent shelving units such as the ones illustrated, thehorizontal clip 50 is first assembled to the side rail 23 of theshelving unit 10 by inserting the strut 51 through the end aperture 40of the side rail 23. When the strut 51 is fully inserted, the anchor pad52 will become locked in the aperture 40 with the upper and lower edges52a and 52b engaging the upper and lower ends 40a and 40b of the slot40. The strut 51 will then extend axially of the end rail 23. In thisposition, the distal end of the strut 50 may easily be placed into thechannel of the end rail 16 of the shelf 11 to hold the two end rails 16,23 in axial alignment. A similar end clip would, of course, be used tohold the two opposite end rails of these two shelving units in similaralignment.

The end frame 28 is then assembled to the shelf 11 by means of the clip48 in a manner already explained; and the leg assembly 27 is thenassembled to the shelf 11 by inserting the end plate 36 into the troughof the end rail 16. It will be observed that the end plate 36 of the legassembly is located between the clip 48 and the strut 51 of thehorizontal clip 50.

The aperture 44 of the end plate 36 and the aperture 53 of thehorizontal clip 50 are then aligned with the aperture above the hook 51of the side clip 48; and the bolt 45 is passed through all of thealigned aperture and is secured by means of the nut 46. The assembly ofadjacent wire shelf units has been found to be greatly facilitated withthe present invention because a single bolt fastens together all of theelements, including a leg assembly, end frame, and horizontal clip forsupporting an adjacent shelf. Further, the horizontal clip, as alreadymentioned, holds one shelf in position without being bolted to the endframe while the shelving is being erected, leaving the complete assemblyuntil the single bolt is installed and further reducing assembly time byeliminating pre-assembly of anything other than the horizontal clip tothat shelf.

In addition, the present invention requires only a single end frame andleg unit for interconnecting adjacent shelving units, and the shelvingunits may be assembled either right-to-left or left-to-right because ofthe interchangeability of elements.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention, personsskilled in the art will be able to modify certain of the structure whichhas been described and to substitute equivalent elements for thosedisclosed while continuing to practice the principle of the invention;and it is, therefore, intended that all such modifications andsubstitutions be covered as they are embraced within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A system for connecting wire shelf units end-toend comprising:longitudinal side rails extending along the edge of each of first andsecond wire shelves; means providing a side wall aperture adjacent theend of each of said side rails; a horizontal clip including an anchorpad and an elongated strut, said strut being adapted to pass through theaperture of said side rail of said first shelf and thence be received insaid side rail of said second shelf, said anchor pad being larger thansaid aperture of said side rail of said first shelf and beingdimensioned so as to become locked to said side rail of said first shelfwhen said strut has been thus inserted, said strut extending intoaxially aligned side rails thereby holding the same in place; and meansfor rigidly connecting the distal end of said strut to said side rail ofsaid second shelf unit adjacent the aperture thereof.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said side rails is a generallyC-shaped channel having an outer vertical side wall and inwardlydepending upper and lower horizontal walls, said side wall aperturethereof extending through said vertical wall and to a limited extentinto said horizontal walls to define an obstructionfree verticalthroughput to receive said anchor pad; said anchor pad of saidhorizontal clip having a generally rectilinear shape and conforming tothe outer vertical wall of a side rail in which said strut is insertedwhereby said pad cannot pass through said aperture of said side rail ofsaid first shelf.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said strut of said horizontalclip has aheight dimensioned to fit within the trough of two axially aligned siderails to prevent bending said side rails relative to each other whensaid strut is inserted into adjacent, aligned rails.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a leg assembly havingan endvertical side plate; and a side clip adapted to mount a wire end frameto said second shelf; said end clip, said vertical end plate of said legassembly, and said horizontal clip all defining apertures adapted to bealigned relative to said aperture of said side rail of said secondshelf; and bolt means adapted to pass through said aligned apertures andto secure all of said elements to said side rail of said second shelf.

5. In a system for connecting first and second wire shelves end-to-end,the combination comprising: elongated side rails on each side of eachshelf, each side rail having a C-shaped cross section and providing anaperture adjacent each end thereof, said C-shape providing an openchannel including a vertical side wall and upper and lower horizontalwalls depending therefrom and opening toward the longitudinal center ofan associated shelf, said aperture being formed in the vertical sidewall of each side rail and extending to a limited degree into theassociated horizontal walls thereof to define a vertical throughput;horizontal clip means including a rectilinear anchor pad and anelongated strut member, the height of said strut member being slightlyless than the spacing between said horizontal walls of said channels;whereby when said channels are axially aligned, said horizontal clip maybe pre-assembled to adjacent end rails to said first and second shelveswhereby the strut thereof is received within each channel and preventsrelative bending between said side rails and said anchor pad firmlylocks into an end aperture of said first shelf; a leg assembly having anend plate at each end thereof adapted to be received in an associatedend rail of said first shelf; an upright end frame including clip means;and bolt means for attaching one end clip of said upright end frame, thedistal end of said strut of said horizontal clip, and one end plate ofsaid leg assembly to the side rail of said second shelf adjacent the endaperture thereof.

1. A system for connecting wire shelf units end-to-end comprising:longitudinal side rails extending along the edge of each of first andsecond wire shelves; means providing a side wall aperture adjacent theend of each of said side rails; a horizontal clip including an anchorpad and an elongated strut, said strut being adapted to pass through theaperture of said side rail of said first shelf and thence be received insaid side rail of said second shelf, said anchor pad being larger thansaid aperture of said side rail of said first shelf and beingdimensioned so as to become locked to said side rail of said first shelfwhen said strut has been thus inserted, said strut extending intoaxially aligned side rails thereby holding the same in place; and meansfor rigidly connecting the distal end of said strut to said side rail ofsaid second shelf unit adjacent the aperture thereof.
 2. The system ofclaim 1 wherein each of said side rails is a generally C-shaped channelhaving an outer vertical side wall and inwardly depending upper andlower horizontal walls, said side wall aperture thereof extendingthrough said vertical wall and to a limited extent into said horizontalwalls to define an obstruction-free vertical throughput to receive saidanchor pad; said anchor pad of said horizontal clip having a generallyrectilinear shape and conforming to the outer vertical wall of a siderail in which said strut is inserted whereby said pad cannot passthrough said aperture of said side rail of said first shelf.
 3. Thesystem of claim 2 wherein said strut of said horizontal clip has aheight dimensioned to fit within the trough of two axially aligned siderails to prevent bending said side rails relative to each other whensaid strut is inserted into adjacent, aligned rails.
 4. The system ofclaim 1 further comprising a leg assembly having an end vertical sideplate; and a side clip adapted to mount a wire end frame to said secondshelf; said end clip, said vertical end plate of said leg assembly, andsaid horizontal clip all defining apertures adapted to be alignedrelative to said aperture of said side rail of said second shelf; andbolt means adapted to pass through said aligned apertures and to secureall of said elements to said side rail of said second shelf.
 5. In asystem for connecting first and second wire shelves end-to-end, thecombination comprising: elongated side rails on each side of each shelf,each side rail having a C-shaped cross section and providing an apertureadjacent each end thereof, said C-shape providing an open channelincluding a vertical side wall and upper and lower horizontal wallsdepending therefrom and opening toward the longitudinal center of anassociated shelf, said aperture being formed in the vertical side wallof each side rail and extending to a limited degree into the associatedhorizontal walls thereof to define a vertical throughput; horizontalclip means including a rectilinear anchor pad and an elongated strutmember, the height of said strut member being slightly less than thespacing between said horizontal walls of said channels; whereby whensaid channels are axially aligned, said horizontal clip may bepre-assembled to adjacent end rails of said first and second shelveswhereby the strut thereof is received within each channel and preventsrelative bending between said side rails and said anchor pad firmlylocks into an end aperture of said first shelf; a leg assembly having anend plate at each end thereof adapted to be received in an associatedend rail of said first shelf; an upright end frame including clip means;and bolt means for attaching one end clip of said upright end frame, thedistal end of said strut of said horizontal clip, and one end plate ofsaid leg assembly to the side rail of said second shelf adjacent the endaperture thereof.